Farewell Ceremony

On Wednesday, 14 August 1985, the Holy Father bade farewell at the Yaoundé Airport to Cameroon, thanking the President for his warm welcome.

1. As I leave Cameroon to visit other African countries, I express my heartfelt thanks and satisfaction to all Cameroonians.

To you, Mr. President of the Republic. You have welcomed me so warmly to this country entrusted to your care! You have arranged for me to meet many of your compatriots in four of the country's capitals, in a climate of serenity. Along with Your Excellency, I thank all the national and local authorities who ensured the smooth running of this trip and who have often honored our gatherings with their presence. I would like to mention all those who participated in the work and services required for my travels, the security and public order services, the preparation of meeting places, and the publicity of the event through the media. I thank all those whose religious sentiments or humanitarian ideals are not expressed in the Catholic faith, but who have come before me willingly, sensing without a doubt that we are all seeking the good of humanity according to God's plan. I reiterate my fraternal sentiments to them.

2. I came on a pastoral visit especially for the brothers and sisters of this country who share my faith and who form the Catholic Church of Cameroon. I learned that they had scrupulously prepared for this visit, in every diocese, parish, and movement! This is undoubtedly what contributed most to making our meetings moments of intense communion in prayer, brotherhood, and joy. You seemed happy to be able to meet the successor of the Apostle Peter here, because in this way you feel closer to Jesus Christ, the invisible head of the Church, and to all Christians who form one body with him. I, in any case, witnessed with great satisfaction all the missionary work accomplished here, all the current commitment of your Church.

3. Let us now look to the future. As I said to your bishops last night, I invite you to extend the evangelization so well begun, so that Christ's message may reach all your fellow citizens. I also urge you to deepen the evangelization from which you have already benefited, so that an even greater symbiosis may be achieved between your faith and your African soul, your African customs, all the natural values you carry within you and which Christ comes to transfigure with his presence. Finally, I urge you to address the new pastoral challenges posed to your country by the changes in modern, urban life and the access of so many young people to education.

In a few years, you will celebrate the centenary of the evangelization of Cameroon. May this jubilee be a new source of pride and thanksgiving, and the starting point of a new missionary outreach, from which you yourselves will one day benefit other countries!

4. All this is possible because God has given you the Holy Spirit who dwells within you, to constantly assist you with his light and strength. To respond to him, increasingly welcome the word of God. Do not cease to pray. Together with your priests, assume your responsibilities as men and women religious, as catechists, and as lay people in your communities, so that they may be vibrant, welcoming, and radiate the charity of Christ. And gather, as a family, around your bishops, who are among you the leaders and guides that God gives you. With them, remain united to the Bishop of Rome, to the universal Church.

5. May God keep you all in his joy and peace! I have a warm thought and a special blessing for those in your families and communities who are sick, suffering, and unable to join your gatherings.

May the Almighty enable Cameroon to prosper! May he assist its leaders! May he inspire, in the depths of their conscience, every Cameroonian, so that in their actions, goodness always triumphs, and thus justice, peace, and brotherhood permeate the country's social life, and God be honored as is right!

I continue to pray for all your intentions. To everyone, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

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